Annual Report

2019 – 2020 School Year

Josh Shapiro

Attorney General

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Table of Contents

I. Safe2Say Something Overview

II. Reporting Requirements

III. Report Findings for 2019-2020 School Year

1. Number of tips received, and total number of tips received since

the launch of the program

2. Breakdown of tips by event type

3. Breakdown of the method by which reports were received

4. Breakdown of the tips by Intermediate Unit

5. The total cost to operate the program, including staffing costs,

administrative costs and support cost.

6. The total number of false tips received

7. The total number of schools and students trained

IV. Comparison from Previous Report and the Impact of COVID19

V. Conclusion and Recommendation

VI. Appendix A: Breakdown of top ten report categories by

Intermediate Unit

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I. Safe2Say Something Overview

In 2018, the General Assembly passed Act 44, which mandated the Office of Attorney General to establish the “Safe2Say Something” (S2SS) anonymous reporting system and required every Pennsylvania school entity to participate in the program by January 14, 2019. S2SS is a life-saving and life-changing school safety program that teaches students, educators, and administrators how: (1) to recognize the signs and signals of individuals who may be at risk of hurting themselves or others, and (2) to anonymously report this information through the S2SS app, website, or 24/7 Crisis Center Hotline. The OAG, in partnership with Sandy Hook Promise (SHP), a leader in anonymous reporting systems, has built out the app, website, and PA-based 24/7 Crisis Center. SHP is a national non-profit committed to creating safe schools and communities through their four evidenced-based Know the Signs intervention programs. Students, educators and administrators have the opportunity to be trained to recognize the signs and signals of individuals who may be at risk of hurting themselves or others along with how to use the S2SS anonymous reporting system to submit tips of the signs and signals they observe.

OAG Crisis Center analysts are trained to vet and triage tips by: (1) conducting 2-way anonymous dialog with tipsters to gather missing information and ensure enough information is provided for schools and local law enforcement to act upon, (2) categorizing each tip as either “Life Safety” or “Non-Life Safety,” for ease of prioritization by tip recipients, and (3) delivering the tip to the impacted school and, when needed, its local law enforcement via 911 county dispatch.

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II. Reporting Requirements

In accordance with Act 44 of 2018, Section 1307-D (a), the Safe2Say Something Program Annual Report is respectfully submitted to the chairperson and minority chairperson of the House and Senate Appropriations Committees, and the chairperson and the minority chairperson of the House and Senate Education Committees.

As required by law, the data included covers the previous school year, starting July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2020, related to the following:

1. The number of reports received for the previous school year. 2. The total number of reports received since the program began. 3. A breakdown of reports by type. 4. A breakdown of the method by which the report was received. 5. A breakdown of the reports by Intermediate Unit, utilizing only aggregate data 6. The total cost to operate the program, including staffing costs, administrative costs, and

support costs. 7. The total number of false reports received. 8. Any other information the Attorney General deems appropriate.

III. Findings for the 2019-2020 School Year, July 1, 2019 –June 30, 2020

1. Number of reports received, and total number of report received since the launch of the program (January 14, 2019).

Since the launch of the program, the tip line has received 47,239 tips. This number excludes any false reports received, as well as any test tips to the system.

For the 2019-2020 school year, the Safe2Say Something program received 23,745 tips. This number also excludes false reports received, and any test tips.

2. Breakdown of reports by type.

The chart below represents a breakdown of reports by type and includes the top 10 categories of tips received by the Safe2Say Something Program since the launch. The top 3 categories are Bullying/Cyber Bullying, Suicide / Suicide Ideation, and Cutting / Self-Harm. The Safe2Say Something Program has 52 different event types to choose from on the mobile application as well as additional event types that only the Safe2Say Something Investigative Analysts can designate during triage.

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The remaining event types and total tip numbers are available upon request.

3. Breakdown of the method by which the report was received. Reports can be received by the Safe2Say Something Program in 3 ways. A report can be submitted via the Safe2Say Something mobile application, which is available for download. Reports can also be submitted through the Safe2Say Something website, as well as calling the hotline and speaking to an investigative analyst directly. The chart below represents the breakdown of the method by which tips were submitted.

TIP SOURCE TOTAL Web Site 4,489 Mobile App 19,890 Phone Call 626

TIP TOTALS 07/01/2019 - 06/30/2020 Event Types Total

Bullying / Cyber Bullying 3608

Suicide / Suicide Ideation 2576

Cutting / Self-Harm 2139

Drug Use / Distribution / Possession 2008

Smoking (Tobacco, E-Cig, Vape) in School 1557

Depression / Anxiety 1513

Threat Against School 1156

Inappropriate Language/Behavior/Gesture 931

General Student Concern 695

Threat Against Person 669

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4. Breakdown of the reports by Intermediate Unit, utilizing only aggregate data. The following is a breakdown of reports, grouped by Intermediate Units. This breakdown contains the tip numbers for all school districts registered with the Safe2Say Program, within their assigned Intermediate Unit, as required in Act 44. Also, for the purpose of streamlining and simplifying the data, Intermediate Unit’s 2 and 3 were combined.

PA Intermediate Units TOTAL TIP NUMBERS

Intermediate Unit 1 717 Pittsburgh - Mt. Oliver IU 2 / Allegheny IU 3 2,013 Midwestern IU 4 1,204 Northwest Tri-County IU 5 548 Riverview IU 6 178 Westmoreland IU 7 1,674 Appalachia IU 8 1,187 Seneca Highlands IU 9 316 Central IU 10 514 Tuscarora IU 11 238 Lincoln IU 12 981 Lancaster - Lebanon IU 13 1,129 Berks County IU 14 622 Capital Area IU 15 2,321 Central Susquehanna IU 16 597 Blast IU 17 401 Luzerne IU 18 752 Northeastern Educational IU 19 796 Colonial IU 20 1,636 Carbon - Lehigh IU 21 1,224 Bucks County IU 22 1,540 Montgomery County IU 23 1,453 Chester County IU 24 1,546 Delaware County IU 25 705 Philadelphia IU 26 478 Beaver Valley IU 27 365 ARIN IU 28 473 Schuylkill IU 29 407

*It is important to note that some tips received involved multiple schools creating duplicate tip statistics.

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5. The total cost to operate the program, including staffing costs, administrative costs and support cost.

The following figure represents the fiscal year cost for operation of the crisis center, continuing education, and outreach for the program: $1.6 Million.

6. The total number of false reports received

During the 2019 – 2020 school year, the Safe2Say Something Program has received a total of 1,261 tips that were designated as false reports or prank tips.

There were a total of 761 tips that were immediately identified as prank tips by the crisis center analysts. These tips were delivered to the school account without sending a notification to the school team.

There were a total of 500 tips containing the disposition of "Deliberate Abuse of System” which are tips that contain seemingly credible information yet proven untrue upon investigation; or the information was provided with the intention to harm or disrupt.

7. Total number of schools and students trained

Student training was offered this year through either self-led trainings, an in person trainer, or using an interactive video. Schools could also use a refresher course to train those students who already received the full training during the previous school year. The number of students that received Safe2Say Something training during the 2019 – 2020 school year, totaled 226,346.

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IV. Comparison from Previous Report and the Impact of COVID-19 On March 13, 2020, Governor Wolf announced the closure of all schools for 10 business days, which would go into effect on Monday, March 16, 2020. On April 9, 2020, Governor Wolf extended the order through the remainder of the school year in order to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Many schools at this time made the transition to remote learning. During this time, the Safe2Say Something Program remained open and continued to answer tips 24/7. While Pennsylvania students were staying at home and attending classes online, Safe2Say saw an increase in Life Safety Tips such as suicide and self-harm. From July 2019 until March, 13 2020, 17% of tips received were designated as Life Safety matters, but starting in March, 37% of tips received were in this category. Much like Pennsylvania’s ChildLine, the Safe2Say Something crisis center saw a significant reduction in the volume of tips received starting March 13, 2020. At the start of COVID-19 health restrictions, Safe2Say was on track to receive approximately 37,000 tips for the entire school year, an increase of roughly 15,000 tips from the previous school year. Instead, Safe2Say recorded 23,745 tips by June, 30 2020. The top 3 tip categories received by the Safe2Say program were the same as the previous school year, though the increase in life-safety tips during the spring led to change in their rankings. The following chart show a comparison in the top 3 event types received by the program:

Event Types 2018 - 2019 2019-2020Bullying / Cyber Bullying 3,558 3,608 +50Suicide / Suicide Ideation 2,184 2,576 +392Cutting / Self-Harm 2,529 2,139 -390

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V. Conclusion and Recommendation

Two critical facts emerge from the tips received by the Safe2Say program during the 2019-2020 school year. The first is the importance of additional mental health resources for students. The second is the impact of COVID-19 on students’ safety.

The importance of improved mental health counseling was the key feature of the 2018-2019 Safe2Say report. In the 2019-2020 school year, the data from Safe2Say once again shows the need for improved mental health resources in our schools. Suicide, self-harm and bullying dominate the tips received by Safe2Say, and improved mental health resources would allow the Commonwealth to help more students address these challenges—many of which are caused by underlying, treatable mental health conditions. With appropriate intervention and treatment, they will be able to focus on their education, which would lead to better outcomes for these students and their community as a whole.

COVID-19 has required separating Pennsylvania students from established support networks that provide nutrition, identify abuse, and help support the child safety net.

This spring, the Attorney General called for funding of innovative approaches to reduce anticipated increases in child abuse and mental health crises during the pandemic. Pennsylvania’s Child Advocacy Centers, law enforcement leaders, and medical experts have all called attention to this challenge, which we must face as part of a full response to the COVID-19 public health threat.

The data from Safe2Say’s report backs up these expectations —life safety reports such as thoughts of suicide and self-harm have doubled since the start of the pandemic. The Attorney General once again calls on funding of innovative approaches to identify abuse and ensure the safety net reaches vulnerable children and students during the pandemic. If public health requires a continuation of distance learning, government must step up and ensure needed child protection and mental health services also reach students in their own homes.

The Attorney General is mandated by law to issue an annual report, but this report is only as good as actions taken by the General Assembly and the Federal Government when the signs are so clear.

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Appendix A:

Breakdown of Top Ten Report Categories By Intermediate Unit

This breakdown contains the tip numbers for all school districts registered with the Safe2Say Program, within their assigned Intermediate Unit, as required in Act 44.

Intermediate Unit 1

Event Type Totals Bully /Cyber Bullying 86 Cutting / Self-Harm 73 Suicide / Suicide Ideation 72 Smoking (Tobacco, E-Cig, Vape) in School 66 Threat Against School 43 Drug Use / Distribution / Possession 40 Inappropriate Language/Behavior/Gesture 26 Depression / Anxiety 24 General Student Concern 19 General Harassment 17

Pittsburgh-Mount Oliver Intermediate Unit 2 and Allegheny Intermediate Unit 3

Event Type Totals Bullying / Cyber Bullying 335 Drug Use / Distribution / Possession 173 Suicide / Suicide Ideation 150 Cutting / Self-Harm 135 Threat Against School 103 Smoking (Tobacco, E-Cig, Vape) in School 96 Inappropriate Language/Behavior/Gesture 87 Depression / Anxiety 82 Threat Against Person 69 General Harassment 53

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Midwestern Intermediate Unit 4

Event Type Totals Bullying / Cyber Bullying 190 Smoking (Tobacco, E-Cig, Vape) in School 102 Cutting / Self-Harm 99 Drug Use / Distribution / Possession 97 Suicide / Suicide Ideation 83 Depression / Anxiety 62 Threat Against School 50 Inappropriate Language/Behavior/Gesture 36 General Student Concern 32 Breaks School District Code 27

Northwest Tri-County Intermediate Unit 5

Event Type Totals Bullying / Cyber Bullying 70 Cutting / Self-Harm 68 Suicide / Suicide Ideation 51 Drug Use / Distribution / Possession 49 Depression / Anxiety 40 Smoking (Tobacco, E-Cig, Vape) in School 35 Threat Against School 32 General Student Concern 19 Inappropriate Language/Behavior/Gesture 18 General Harassment 11

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Riverview Intermediate Unit 6

Event Type Totals Suicide / Suicide Ideation 22 Bullying / Cyber Bullying 21 Smoking (Tobacco, E-Cig, Vape) in School 17 Drug Use / Distribution / Possession 13 Cutting / Self-Harm 12 Depression / Anxiety 11 Threat Against Person 7 Inappropriate Language/Behavior/Gesture 7 Threat Against School 5 Animal Cruelty 5

Westmoreland Intermediate Unit 7

Event Type Totals Bullying / Cyber Bullying 237 Smoking (Tobacco, E-Cig, Vape) in School 224 Drug Use / Distribution / Possession 180 Suicide / Suicide Ideation 116 Cutting / Self-Harm 112 Depression / Anxiety 79 Inappropriate Language/Behavior/Gesture 70 Threat Against School 53 Threat Against Person 41 General Student Concern 38

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Appalachia Intermediate Unit 8

Event Type Totals Bullying / Cyber Bullying 173 Cutting / Self-Harm 133 Suicide / Suicide Ideation 117 Smoking (Tobacco, E-Cig, Vape) in School 96 Drug Use / Distribution / Possession 90 Threat Against School 71 Depression / Anxiety 63 Threat Against Person 37 Inappropriate Language/Behavior/Gesture 26 General Harassment 17

Seneca Highlands Intermediate Unit 9

Event Type Totals Bullying / Cyber Bullying 45 Cutting / Self-Harm 28 Depression / Anxiety 28 Suicide / Suicide Ideation 26 Drug Use / Distribution / Possession 22 Inappropriate Language/Behavior/Gesture 20 Smoking (Tobacco, E-Cig, Vape) in School 17 Threat Against Person 13 Distributing Inappropriate Photos 9 Threat Against School 8

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Central Intermediate Unit 10

Event Type Totals Bullying / Cyber Bullying 76 Suicide / Suicide Ideation 45 Drug Use / Distribution / Possession 36 Depression / Anxiety 29 Cutting / Self-Harm 41 Smoking (Tobacco, E-Cig, Vape) in School 23 Inappropriate Language/Behavior/Gesture 16 Threat Against School 16 Verbal Abuse 9 Discrimination 9

Tuscarora Intermediate Unit 11

Event Type Totals Bullying / Cyber Bullying 37 Suicide / Suicide Ideation 39 Drug Use / Distribution / Possession 23 Cutting / Self-Harm 25 Depression / Anxiety 18 Inappropriate Language/Behavior/Gesture 9 Sexual Assault / Rape 6 Threat Against Person 7 Inappropriate Bus Behavior 5 General Student Concern 5

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Lincoln Intermediate Unit 12

Event Type Totals Suicide / Suicide Ideation 134 Bullying / Cyber Bullying 119 Cutting / Self-Harm 106 Drug Use / Distribution / Possession 77 Depression / Anxiety 66 Threat Against School 46 Smoking (Tobacco, E-Cig, Vape) in School 44 Inappropriate Language/Behavior/Gesture 26 Planned Attack / Fight / Assault 13 Disorderly / Dangerous Conduct 13

Lancaster-Lebanon Intermediate Unit 13

Event Type Totals Suicide / Suicide Ideation 150 Bullying / Cyber Bullying 148 Cutting / Self-Harm 117 Depression / Anxiety 84 Drug Use / Distribution / Possession 75 Smoking (Tobacco, E-Cig, Vape) in School 40 Threat Against School 38 Threat Against Person 30 General Student Concern 28 Planned Attack / Fight / Assault 13

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Berks County Intermediate Unit 14

Event Type Totals Bullying / Cyber Bullying 87 Cutting / Self-Harm 83 Suicide / Suicide Ideation 70 Drug Use / Distribution / Possession 57 Smoking (Tobacco, E-Cig, Vape) in School 36 Depression / Anxiety 36 Threat Against School 25 Threat Against Person 19 Planned Attack / Fight / Assault 19 General Harassment 16

Capital Area Intermediate Unit 15

Event Type Totals Suicide / Suicide Ideation 412 Cutting / Self-Harm 266 Bullying / Cyber Bullying 251 Drug Use / Distribution / Possession 142 Depression / Anxiety 122 Threat Against School 85 Smoking (Tobacco, E-Cig, Vape) in School 66 Inappropriate Language/Behavior/Gesture 63 Threat Against Person 42 General Harassment 29

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Central Susquehanna Intermediate Unit 16

Event Type Totals Suicide / Suicide Ideation 105 Bullying / Cyber Bullying 97 Cutting / Self-Harm 55 Smoking (Tobacco, E-Cig, Vape) in School 40 Drug Use / Distribution / Possession 28 Inappropriate Language/Behavior/Gesture 23 Depression / Anxiety 22 Threat Against Person 17 General Student Concern 11 Inappropriate Physical Contact 7

BLaST Intermediate Unit 17

Event Type Totals Bullying / Cyber Bullying 60 Suicide / Suicide Ideation 58 Cutting / Self-Harm 45 Drug Use / Distribution / Possession 33 Depression / Anxiety 31 Inappropriate Language/Behavior/Gesture 17 Smoking (Tobacco, E-Cig, Vape) in School 16 General Harassment 12 Threat Against School 9 Physical Abuse 5

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Luzerne Intermediate Unit 18

Event Type Totals Bullying / Cyber Bullying 127 Suicide / Suicide Ideation 88 Cutting / Self-Harm 64 Drug Use / Distribution / Possession 60 Depression / Anxiety 46 Threat Against School 34 Inappropriate Language/Behavior/Gesture 29 Smoking (Tobacco, E-Cig, Vape) in School 26 Threat Against Person 22 Weapons / Explosive Device 17

Northeastern Educational Intermediate Unit 19

Event Type Totals Bullying / Cyber Bullying 131 Smoking (Tobacco, E-Cig, Vape) in School 86 Threat Against School 68 Suicide / Suicide Ideation 66 Drug Use / Distribution / Possession 46 Depression / Anxiety 27 Cutting / Self-Harm 40 Threat Against Person 18 General Student Concern 15 General School Complaint 13

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Colonial Intermediate Unit 20

Event Type Totals Threat Against School 199 Bullying / Cyber Bullying 192 Suicide / Suicide Ideation 165 Drug Use / Distribution / Possession 121 Cutting / Self-Harm 118 Depression / Anxiety 112 Smoking (Tobacco, E-Cig, Vape) in School 62 General Student Concern 57 Inappropriate Language/Behavior/Gesture 47 Threat Against Person 22

Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit 21

Event Type Totals Bullying / Cyber Bullying 175 Suicide / Suicide Ideation 153 Drug Use / Distribution / Possession 125 Cutting / Self-Harm 112 Smoking (Tobacco, E-Cig, Vape) in School 87 Depression / Anxiety 69 Inappropriate Language/Behavior/Gesture 45 General Harassment 42 Threat Against School 39 Threat Against Person 34

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Bucks County Intermediate Unit 22

Event Type Totals Bullying / Cyber Bullying 243 Suicide / Suicide Ideation 158 Drug Use / Distribution / Possession 154 Depression / Anxiety 108 Cutting / Self-Harm 104 General Student Concern 76 Smoking (Tobacco, E-Cig, Vape) in School 70 Inappropriate Language/Behavior/Gesture 53 Threat Against School 46 General Harassment 36

Montgomery County Intermediate Unit 23

Event Type Totals Suicide / Suicide Ideation 191 Bullying / Cyber Bullying 185 Cutting / Self-Harm 129 Depression / Anxiety 102 Drug Use / Distribution / Possession 101 Inappropriate Language/Behavior/Gesture 70 Smoking (Tobacco, E-Cig, Vape) in School 65 General Student Concern 42 Threat Against School 38 Threat Against Person 37

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Chester County Intermediate Unit 24

Event Type Totals Bullying / Cyber Bullying 220 Suicide / Suicide Ideation 196 Depression / Anxiety 141 Cutting / Self-Harm 105 Drug Use / Distribution / Possession 101 Inappropriate Language/Behavior/Gesture 63 Smoking (Tobacco, E-Cig, Vape) in School 57 Threat Against School 53 General Student Concern 45 Threat Against Person 29

Delaware County Intermediate Unit 25

Event Type Totals Bullying / Cyber Bullying 103 Suicide / Suicide Ideation 90 Cutting / Self-Harm 64 Depression / Anxiety 55 Drug Use / Distribution / Possession 48 Threat Against School 44 Smoking (Tobacco, E-Cig, Vape) in School 27 Inappropriate Language/Behavior/Gesture 27 General Student Concern 27 Threat Against Person 21

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Philadelphia Intermediate Unit 26

Event Type Totals Bullying / Cyber Bullying 63 Suicide / Suicide Ideation 57 Threat Against School 39 Drug Use / Distribution / Possession 28 Depression / Anxiety 27 General Student Concern 22 Inappropriate Language/Behavior/Gesture 17 General School Complaint 16 Cutting / Self-Harm 16 Threat Against Person 13

Beaver Valley Intermediate Unit 27

Event Type Totals Bullying / Cyber Bullying 56 Cutting / Self-Harm 37 Suicide / Suicide Ideation 34 Smoking (Tobacco, E-Cig, Vape) in School 26 Drug Use / Distribution / Possession 20 Depression / Anxiety 15 Threat Against Person 14 Inappropriate Language/Behavior/Gesture 12 Breaks School District Code 11 Planned Attack / Fight / Assault 9

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ARIN Intermediate Unit 28

Event Type Totals Drug Use/Distribution/Possession 49 Smoking (Tobacco, E-Cig, Vape) in School 47 Bullying/Cyber Bullying 46 Suicide/Suicide Ideation 43 Cutting/Self Harm 43 Depression/Anxiety 26 Threat Against Person 18 Physical Abuse 10 Planned Attack / Fight / Assault 9 Weapons / Explosive Device 8

Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29

Event Type Totals Smoking (Tobacco, E-Cig, Vape) in School 69 Suicide / Suicide Ideation 44 Drug Use / Distribution / Possession 42 Bullying / Cyber Bullying 41 Cutting / Self-Harm 34 Depression / Anxiety 26 Inappropriate Language/Behavior/Gesture 12 General School Complaint 11 Threat Against Person 10 Distributing Inappropriate Photos 10